Firstly I apologise for the late posts, between uni and then my laptop deciding to just give up with me.

Secondly, thank you, for reading and just clicking on this blog post. Even if you decide not to go further, thank you.

Okay, let’s get right into it. Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law”.

Definition: “Long-suffering: having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people”.

And patience means: “Able to accept or tolerate delays, problems or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious”.

One aspect of both definitions, like an overall thing is troubles and delay, and how God wants us to go through those with an attitude which isn’t annoyance. I’m gonna share a little bit of how God is currently teaching me patience.

I remember hearing a pastor say, when you pray for something, and be prepared. Because when you pray for patience, God is going to put you in situations where you’re gonna have to be patient. When you pray for more faith, God is gonna have you in situations where you’re gonna have to rely on your faith in God..

When I was applying for my year abroad, because my school was in Europe, their application processes started a lot later in comparison to the ones going to the US and Canada. When  I saw everyone else around me already finishing theirs before I had even started, I really got impatient. I got real tired of waiting. And the waiting game didn’t stop. It was always something, if I wasn’t waiting for an email, it was waiting for a breakthrough, an answer, or even just a sign that things were gonna work out and be okay. Eventually, they did. However, I guess I could’ve dealt with the waiting period a lot better. Rather than complaining because I had to wait.

The amplified version of Galatians 5:22 reads “patience [Not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting]. ”

Everyone at some point in their lives have to wait, but it’s how our character is, in that process. People may be waiting for God to send them a spouse or waiting for a job offer. A lot of scenarios that we go through, they’re out of our control. And we often can’t do anything about that. Part of the definition said ‘especially caused by other people’. That doesn’t mean we have to like the waiting process, but it just means that we have to keep holding on and not becoming annoyed at it or anxious in the waiting. 

Let’s look at Abraham. God told him that he’ll have a son. Great news! But months went by..nothing… one year, two years, five years, ten years. Nothing happened! Abraham was expectant that the miracle was going to happen, and the waiting he could do, but the attitude of Sarah in the midst of that waiting, she gave up and laughed at the thought she could be pregnant at her old age. There wasn’t much hope from Sarah’s side, by the time when God had given them their son, they had already tried to do it their own way and much heartache came with it.

Another aspect of patience is dealing with other people in a way that’s patient. God is  our father, and He deals with us very patiently. Slow to anger, and he’s quick to forgive. If you’ve ever looked at how much you mess up along the way to becoming who He purposed you to be, He doesn’t get annoyed, but is there with you to guide you along the way. And I think we’re supposed to also deal with others too.

People in their journeys are gonna fall and mess up, but extending grace to them, showing patience to them, enduring with them and having a hopeful attitude. Just how God is with us.

I want to repeat again, patience is our attitude while we’re waiting.

In Isaiah, the bible tells us that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Waiting on God with an expectant heart and a spirit which is ready to hear. Without getting anxious or giving up, but knowing that God may not show up on our time (I mean, Lazarus was already dead when Jesus arrived, though He knew he was sick), but He’s always on time to fulfill the purpose He intended. What God has for you, will come to you. His promises will be fulfilled. The wait isn’t always easy, it’s not always gonna be fun, but wait on God, with a hopeful enduring attitude.

A small reminder for this week to just extend a little patience to others too, we’re human , and we’re all trying to figure this thing called life out, and we won’t always get it right on the first time. Like a baby learning how to walk, they stand and they fall, they take one step and they fall, over and over, but the parent’s don’t get anxious or annoyed, but they encourage and continue to help them.

Finally, I wanna encourage us to have a little patience with ourselves. It’s often easy to beat ourselves up when we’re not yet where we want to be, sometimes through fault of our own, or sometimes others. But let the seed of patience grow inside you. Having the right attitude, and leaning on God.

Thank you so much for reading this post, and I hope it makes sense and resonates to you. Apologies again for the long delay in posting this part!

Have a blessed week(end).

Peace joy & love

tk